Rassie’s selection headache for the Springboks’ November tour
Over 60 players are capable of wearing the green and gold, but only 34 will be chosen for Springboks’ November tour.
Over 60 players are capable of wearing the green and gold, but only 34 will be chosen for Springboks’ November tour.
Decisions, decisions, decisions; that’s the complicated life of Rassie Erasmus, who can’t seem to make one wrong.
From fullback to flanker, the Springboks are littered with homegrown talent, boasting numerous world-class players in every position.
But, while squad depth is a good problem to have, it’s a problem nonetheless and one I’m sure Erasmus will be tinkering with for weeks.
WHAT NEXT FOR RASSIE AND THE SPRINGBOKS?
With the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Top 14 underway, Erasmus will turn his attention to club rugby before choosing his side.
“Some players are on leave, some players will play URC, some are playing in France, some are going to Mauritius, and four or five guys are organised with their franchises to take their rest now,” Erasmus told SuperSport.
“We watched the Currie Cup to see how players like Quan Horn, who was part of our team, fared in the Currie Cup, just like Morne van den Berg, who will play now.
“Thomas du Toit will probably go back to Bath and then we have a tough three-match schedule in which we would like to be unbeaten. It would be a great season if we could only lose two games.
“The players are off for three weeks, not the coaches. They will be with their franchises and after three weeks, the available guys will gather in Cape Town.
“It will include about 10 players playing in England and Japan, and as the players get released, we will start preparing the last two weeks before we go overseas,” he added.
SOUTH AFRICA’S NOVEMBER FIXTURES
South Africa will hope to go one step further than their recent Rugby Championship success by remaining unbeaten.
So, who are we playing? And when?
- Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs South Africa (18:10 SA time)
- Saturday, 16 November: England vs South Africa (19:40 SA time)
- Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs South Africa (19:40 SA time)
The English, having lost to the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup semi-final and 2019 World Cup final, would love nothing more than to dampen the Boks’ record. They will likely come out with a vengeance in front of a sold-out Twickenham crowd.
Scotland, too, will want revenge for their defeat against the Springboks in the opening game of last year’s World Cup, a match that, if they had won, would have seen them on their way to the quarterfinal.
There’s a bitter taste of South African success in the United Kingdom, insinuating that emotions will run high during each game – making for excellent viewing.
For now, Erasmus and his coaching staff will decipher their dilemma of having too much talent and aim to send the best team available. Get your popcorn ready – this has all the ingredients for a nail-biting tour.